Laser chemistry synthesis of NF4 BF4

ABSTRACT

A process for producing the product NF 4  BF 4  by subjecting gases  3 , BF 3 , and a gaseous source of a compound which releases fluorine gas when subjected to a tuned CO 2  laser source to cause the product NF 4  BF 4  to precipitate and be collectable. This product can be produced in a closed chamber system or in a continuous flow system at room temperature.

DEDICATORY CLAUSE

The invention described herein may be manufactured, used, and licensed by or for the Government for governmental purposes without the payment to me of any royalties thereon.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In the past, the product NF₄ BF₄ has been produced through a photolysis reaction of NF₃, BF₃ and fluorine gas (F₂) using Hg-lamp and reacting at liquid nitrogen temperature. This is not a preferred way of producing the desired product due to the temperatures required for causing the reaction to take place and due to the cast of producing the product. In the prior art, the reaction is much more costly than is desirable.

Therefore, it is an object of this invention to provide a more economical way for producing NF₄ BF₄.

Another object of this invention is to produce a more economical process for producing NF₄ BF₄ by reacting chemicals at room temperature and using infrared photons which cost much less than the photons produced from Hg-lamp.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a process in which cryogenic temperatures are not required for producing the desired product.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a chemical process for producing NF₄ BF₄ in which less corrosive chemicals are used.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with this invention, the gases NF₃, BF₃ and a gaseous source of a compound which releases fluorine gas when subjected to a tuned CO₂ laser at room temperature are reacted to produce the reaction product NF₄ BF₄ as a precipitate and a gaseous byproduct.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Synthesis of the reaction product NF₄ BF₄ is accomplished in accordance with this invention by placing the gases NF₃, BF₃, and SF₆ in a reaction chamber in a molar ratio of each of the gases in a 1:1 mole ratio or with an excess mole ratio of the SF₆ gas. The reaction is carried out at room temperature of about 25° C ± 5° C. Also, in order to cause the reaction to go, pulsed CO₂ laser radiation tuned to the P₁₄ - P₂₀ lines is used to irradiate the gases in an appropriate reaction chamber. The reaction product (NF₄ BF₄) precipitates out and gaseous SF₄ is pumped off in a conventional manner. A schematic illustration of the reaction is illustrated in the blocks hereinbelow: ##STR1##

Another way of producing the reaction product NF₄ BF₄ is by placing gases NF₃, BF₃ and N₂ F₄ in an appropriate reaction vessel with the gases being present in a 1:1 mole ratio or with an excess mole ratio of the N₂ F₄ gas. The gases are subjected to pulsed CO₂ laser radiation tuned to the P₁₄ - P₂₀ lines to irradiate the bases in the reaction vessel. The reaction product NF₄ BF₄ precipitates out and the other reaction product N₂ F₃ is pumped off in a conventional manner. This reaction proceeds in accordance with the general formula illustrated hereinbelow: ##STR2##

An appropriate reaction vessel for either of the reactions above can comprise a simple cylindrical gas cell of about 1 inch by 4 inches with salt windows on either end through which the laser radiation is injected. Also, this reaction can be carried out in a continuous flow system by continuously exposing the reaction gases to pulsed CO₂ laser radiation to produce pound quantities of the reaction product NF₄ BF₄. The reaction product NF₄ BF₄ is a product that is used as a fluorine fuel for the HF chemical laser.

EXAMPLE

20 torr each of the gases NF₃, BF₃, and SF₆ were placed in a stainless steel reaction chamber of a simple cylindrical gas cell one inch by four inches with salt windows on either end. Pulsed CO₂ radiation tuned to the P₁₄ - P₂₀ lines was used to radiate the cell through one of the salt windows. The reaction was carried out at room temperature as set forth hereinabove and the reaction product (NF₄ BF₄) precipitated out in the cell and gaseous SF₄ which was the other reaction product was pumped off in a conventional manner. In this reaction, an excess of more than one molar ratio of SF₆ can be used. The criticality being that at least one mole ratio of SF₆ be used in order to efficiently produce the reaction product NF₄ BF₄. 

I claim:
 1. A process for producing NF₄ BF₄ comprising placing the gases NF₃, BF₃ and a gaseous compound that gives up fluorine when subjected to laser energy in a reaction container at room temperature and subjecting the gases to a CO₂ laser source for irradiating the reaction chamber and producing NF₄ BF₄ as a precipitate.
 2. A process for producing NF₄ BF₄ as set forth in claim 1, wherein said gaseous compound that gives up free fluorine is SF₆, wherein said CO₂ laser source is tuned to the P₁₄ - P₂₀ lines, and wherein said room temperature is about 25° C ± 5° C.
 3. A process for producing NF₄ BF₄ as set forth in claim 2, wherein said gases are continuously passed through a flow system and said CO₂ laser source is pulsed to produce substantial quantities of the product NF₄ BF₄.
 4. A process for producing NF₄ BF₄ as set forth in claim 1, wherein said gaseous compound that gives up free fluorine is N₂ F₄, wherein said CO₂ radiation is tuned to the P₁₄ - P₂₀ lines, and wherein said room temperature is about 25° C ± 5° C.
 5. A process for producing NF₄ BF₄ as set forth in claim 4, wherein said gases continuously flow through a flow system and said CO₂ laser source is pulsed to produce substantial quantities of the product NF₄ BF₄.
 6. A process for producing NF₄ BF₄ as set forth in claim 3, wherein said gases are present in an amount of about 1 mole ratio each.
 7. A process for producing NF₄ BF₄ as set forth in claim 5, wherein said gases are present in an amount of about 1 mole ratio each. 